* 163 seats in the [[Missouri House of Representatives elections, 2014|Missouri House of Representatives]]

* 163 seats in the [[Missouri House of Representatives elections, 2014|Missouri House of Representatives]]

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The filing deadline for candidates running in the primary election was March 25, 2014, and the filing deadline for independent candidates running in the general election is July 28, 2014. New parties must submit formation petitions by July 28, 2014 in order to qualify for placement on the 2014 general election ballot.<ref name=mocalendar>[http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/calendar/2014cal.asp ''Missouri Secretary of State'', "2014 Missouri Election Calendar," accessed March 6, 2014]</ref><ref name=moindiedeadline>[http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C100-199/1150000329.HTM ''Missouri Revised Statutes'', "Section 115.329," accessed March 6, 2014]</ref>

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The filing deadline for candidates running in the primary election was March 25, 2014, and the filing deadline for independent candidates running in the general election was July 28, 2014. New parties had to submit formation petitions by July 28, 2014 in order to qualify for placement on the 2014 general election ballot.<ref name=mocalendar>[http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/calendar/2014cal.asp ''Missouri Secretary of State'', "2014 Missouri Election Calendar," accessed March 6, 2014]</ref><ref name=moindiedeadline>[http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C100-199/1150000329.HTM ''Missouri Revised Statutes'', "Section 115.329," accessed March 6, 2014]</ref>

This page contains information on specific filing dates for each election year, how to become a candidate, how to create a political party, campaign finance requirements, state agency contacts involved in the election process, and term limits in Missouri. Information on running for election as a presidential candidate or for county and municipal offices is not included.

Note: If you have any questions or comments about this page, email us.

The filing deadline for candidates running in the primary election was March 25, 2014, and the filing deadline for independent candidates running in the general election was July 28, 2014. New parties had to submit formation petitions by July 28, 2014 in order to qualify for placement on the 2014 general election ballot.[1][2]

Legend:Ballot AccessCampaign FinanceElection Date

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2014

Deadline

Event type

Event description

March 25, 2014

Ballot access

Filing deadline for candidates running in the primary election

April 8, 2014

Campaign finance

Personal Financial Disclosure due for primary candidates**

April 15, 2014

Campaign finance

April Quarterly Report due for primary candidates**

July 15, 2014

Campaign finance

July Quarterly Report due for primary candidates**

July 28, 2014

Ballot access

Filing deadline for independent candidates running in the general election; filing deadline for new party formation petitions

In some states, a candidate may choose to have a label other than that of an officially recognized party appear alongside his or her name on the ballot. Such labels are called political party designations. A political party designation would be used when a candidate qualifies as an independent, but prefers to use a different label. Missouri[4]does not allow candidates to identify in this way. A total of 25 states allow candidates to use political party designations in non-presidential elections.{{{Reference}}}

The 11 states listed below (and Washington, D.C.) do not provide a process for political organizations to gain qualified status in advance of an election. Instead, in these states, an aspirant party must first field candidates using party designations. If the candidate or candidates win the requisite votes, the organization may then be recognized as an official political party. In these states, a political party can be formed only if the candidate in the general election obtains a specific number of votes. The number of votes required and type of race vary from state to state. Details can be found on the state-specific requirements pages.[5]

Process to establish a political party

Any group of individuals desiring to form a new political party, either throughout the state or for any congressional or state legislative district, must petition the Secretary of State of Missouri for recognition. Each page of such a petition must clearly state the intention to form a new political party and must indicate in no more than five words the name of the proposed party. Petitioners must also provide a complete list of the names and addresses of the chairman and treasurer of the party. The chairman and treasurer must also submit a certified list of the names and addresses of all the party's candidates and the office being sought by each.[6][7]

If the party is being formed for the entire state, the petition must be signed by at least 10,000 registered voters. If the new party is being formed for a district, the petition must be signed by a number of registered voters in the district equal to at least 2 percent of the total number of voters who voted at the last election for candidates for the office being sought, or 10,000 registered voters, whichever is less. Examples of signature requirements for new parties formed at the district level are provided in the table below.[6]

New party formation petitions must be submitted no earlier than 8:00 a.m. on the day immediately following the general election next preceding the general election for which the petition is submitted and no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 15th Monday preceding the general election for which the petition is submitted. For example, for the 2014 election, petitions could not be submitted prior to November 7, 2012 and could not be accepted after July 28, 2014.[2]

Nominating candidates

Along with the certified list of candidates a party's chairman and treasurer must submit with the party's formation petition, a declaration of candidacy must also be submitted for each candidate (see "Process to become a candidate" for more information). The party is entitled to nominate its candidates in the manner prescribed in the party's bylaws. Thereafter, nominations must be made via primary.[7][9]

Procedural requirements

A party committee can adopt a constitution or bylaws or both, provided such constitution or bylaws do not contain provisions that conflict with state laws. Changes to party rules can require no more than a two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of a committee.[10]

Maintaining party status

In order to maintain recognized status, a state-level party must have polled for its candidate for any statewide office more than 2 percent of the total vote cast for that office at either of the last two general elections. In 2012, for example, the statewide office receiving the fewest total votes was treasurer, for which 2,642,432 people voted. In order to maintain ballot access, a party's candidate for that office would have had to win at least 52,849 votes.[8][11]

A district-level party must have polled more than 2 percent of the entire vote cast at either of the last two general elections in which the district voted as a unit for the election of officers or representatives.[11]

Process to become a candidate

Figure 1: This is the Declaration of Candidacy form for the state of Missouri.

For established party candidates

A candidate of an establishing party seeking access to the primary ballot must file a Declaration of Candidacy with the appropriate elections official by 5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday in March immediately preceding the primary. The Declaration of Candidacy cannot be submitted prior to 8:00 a.m. on the last Tuesday in February immediately preceding the primary. The declaration must state the candidate's name, residential address, office being sought, and political party.[12][13]

Before filing a Declaration of Candidacy, a candidate must pay a filing fee to the treasurer of the state or county committee of the political party whose nomination he or she is seeking in the primary. Filing fees vary according to the office sought and are as follows:[12][14]

A candidate must also file an affidavit with the Missouri Department of Revenue affirming that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the candidate is not delinquent in the payment of any state-owed taxes (e.g., income tax, property tax, etc.).[12][15]

A candidate is required to file for office in person. In addition to completing the Declaration of Candidacy, a candidate must present proof of identity, a receipt for the payment of any filing fees, and a copy of the affidavit filed with the Missouri Department of Revenue. A candidate may file for office by certified mail if he or she is unable to appear in person due to a physical disability or is a member of the armed forces on active duty. Filing paperwork submitted via mail must be certified by a notary public.[12][16]

If a candidate is unable to pay the requisite filing fees, he or she may have the fee waived by filing a Declaration of Inability to Pay and a petition with his or her Declaration of Candidacy. If the candidate is filing for statewide office, the petition must be signed by a number of registered voters in the state equal to at least one-half of 1 percent of the total number of votes cast in the state for the office being sought at the last election in which a candidate ran for the office. If the candidate is filing for any other office, the petition must be signed by a number of registered voters in the district or political subdivision equal to at least 1 percent of the total number of votes cast for the office being sought at the last election in which a candidate ran for the office. Examples of signature requirements are provided in the table below.[12][16]

Candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices must file with the Missouri Secretary of State.[17]

For independent candidates

Like party candidates, an independent candidate seeking access to the general election ballot must file a Declaration of Candidacy and an affidavit affirming that he or she is not delinquent in the payment of any state-owed taxes. The candidate is required to file in person (with the same aforementioned exceptions). Independent candidates, however, are not liable for the payment of any filing fees.[18][19]

Independents must submit nominating petitions with their filing paperwork. Signature requirements vary according the office sought. For any statewide office, a nominating petition must be signed by at least 10,000 registered voters of the state. If the candidate seeks a district-level office, the petition must be signed by a number of registered voters in the district equal to at least 2 percent of the total number of votes cast at the last election for the office being sought, or 10,000 signatures, whichever is less. Examples of signature requirements for nominating petitions are provided in the table below.[18][19]

The candidate must file all requisite paperwork (including petitions) by 5:00 p.m. on the 15th Monday immediately preceding the general election for which the petition is submitted. Paperwork cannot be submitted prior to 8:00 a.m. on the day immediately following the general election next preceding the general election for which the petition is submitted.[18][2]

Candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative offices must file with the Missouri Secretary of State.[17][18]

For write-in candidates

In order to have his or her votes tallied, a write-in candidate must file a Declaration of Intent to Be a Write-In Candidate with the proper election official by 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday immediately preceding the election. Write-in candidates are not permitted on the primary ballot.[20][21]

Write-in candidates for federal, statewide, and state legislative office must file with the Missouri Secretary of State.[17]

Petition requirements

In some cases, political parties and/or candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Missouri.

Format requirements

Nominating petitions and petitions submitted in lieu of filing fees are subject to the following requirements:[22][23]

Each page or sheet attached to a page of each petition must declare concisely the intention to nominate either an independent candidate or a party candidate who is unable to pay the filing fee, as the case may be.

Each page or sheet attached to a page of each petition must include the name and address of the candidate.

Each page or sheet attached to a page of each petition must indicate the office being sought.

Pages must be of uniform size, and the space for signatures on either side of a petition page must be no larger than 8.5 by 14 inches. Each page can contain signatures of registered voters from only one county. When submitted for filing, the pages of each petition must be numbered sequentially.[24]

Petitions for the formation of a new political party must be in substantially the following form:[24]

“

It is a felony for anyone to sign any petition for the formation of a new party with any name other than his or her own, or knowingly to sign his or her name more than once to the same petition, or to sign a petition when he or she knows he or she is not a registered voter. Signing this petition does not obligate you to vote for any candidate or party.

PETITION FOR PLACING A NEW PARTY ON THE BALLOT

To the Honorable [title of official with whom petition is to be filed] for [the state of Missouri or appropriate county]:

We, the undersigned, citizens and registered voters of the state of Missouri, [name of county] County and [district if appropriate], respectfully order that the [name of new political party] and its candidates be placed on the ballot, for election or rejection to such public offices at the next election, to be held on the [date] day of [month, year], and each for himself or herself says: I have personally signed this petition; I am a registered voter of the state of Missouri, [name of county] County and [district if appropriate]; my registered voting address and the name of the city, town or village in which I live are correctly written after my name.[25]

”

Petitions for independent candidates must be in substantially the following form:[24]

“

It is a felony for anyone to sign any petition for the nomination of an independent candidate with any name other than his or her own, or knowingly to sign his or her name more than once to the same petition, or to sign a petition when he or she knows he or she is not a registered voter.

PETITION FOR THE NOMINATION OF AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE

To the Honorable [title of official with whom petition is to be filed] for [the state of Missouri or appropriate county]:

We, the undersigned, citizens and registered voters of the state of Missouri, [name of county] County and [district if appropriate], nominate [name of independent candidate], residing at [address of candidate], as an independent candidate for [name of public office for which candidate is to be nominated] and respectfully order that the name of [name of candidate] be placed on the ballot, for election or rejection to such office at the next election, to be held on the [date] day of [month, year], and each for himself or herself says: I have personally signed this petition; I am a registered voter of the state of Missouri, [name of county] County and [district if appropriate]; my registered voting address and the name of the city, town or village in which I live are correctly written after my name.[25]

”

Circulation requirements

Each petition must include a circulator's affidavit on which the circulator attests before a notary public that he or she is a resident of the state of Missouri. The relevant statutes stipulate no further requirements for circulators.[24]

Campaign finance

General requirements

A candidate for statewide or state legislative office must file a Personal Financial Disclosure statement with the Missouri Ethics Commission no later than 14 days after the closing date of the candidate filing period. Incumbents must report information from January 1 of the previous calendar year to the closing date of the candidate filing period. New candidates must report information for the 12 months prior to the closing date of the candidate filing period.[26]

All candidates and all committees, regardless of their reporting status, must keep accurate and up-to-date records of all financial activities. If a candidate receives total contributions of $500 or less, makes total expenditures of $500 or less, and no single contributor (other than the candidate) contributes more than $325, the candidate may file a Statement of Exemption and Exemption Statement of Limited Activity Reports. A candidates who exceed these thresholds must submit a Statement of Committee Organization, as well as subsequent required disclosure reports.[26]

If a candidate is required to file a Statement of Committee Organization, he or she must do the following:[26]

identify the committee type (i.e., candidate committee)

form the committee (e.g., open a committee bank account, appoint a treasurer, etc. -- treasurers must be state residents, must reside in candidate district, and must be appointed by the candidate)

register the committee (file Statement of Committee Organization within 20 days after the committee is formed and no later than the deadline for filing of the first disclosure report)

identify the office with which reports must be filed (Missouri Ethics Commission for statewide candidates; Missouri Ethics Commission and local election authority for state legislative candidates)

Any amendments to committee or financial disclosure information should be made within 20 days of the change prompting the amendment. Before closing, a committee must distribute any remaining funds and dissolve any remaining debt. A committee can be terminated by filing a Committee Termination Statement and Disclosure Report within 10 days of the committee's dissolution.[26]

Reporting requirements

A series of regular disclosure reports are required for both the primary and general election cycles. in these reports, all contributions from committees must be itemized, and contributions from persons giving more than $100 must be itemized (including the name, address, and employer of the contributor, as well as the date, amount, and aggregate total to date of the contributions). All expenditures of over $100 must be itemized (including the name and address of the recipient, as well as the date, purpose, and amount of the payment). Required primary election cycle reports include the following: Personal Financial Disclosure, April Quarterly Report, July Quarterly Report, 8-day Before Report, and a 30-day After Report. Required general election cycle reports include the following: Personal Financial Disclosure, October Quarterly Report 8-day Before Report, and a 30-day After Report.[26][27][28]

In addition to regular disclosure reports, any individual or committee receiving any contributions from any single contributor over $5,000 must electronically report the contribution to the Missouri Ethics Commission within 48 hours of receipt. Any contribution over $250 that is received between the 11th day prior to and the day before the election must be reported within 24 hours of receipt.[26][29]

A committee must continue to file quarterly reports until the committee successfully terminates.[26]

Contribution limits

There are no statutory limits on individual campaign contributions in Missouri.[30][31]